Junie Browning

Biography

Junie "The Lunatic" Browning was born in Florida and raised in Kentucky. He attended Bourbon County High School where he competed in football and the 160 lb (73 kg). division of wrestling. At the age of four, Browning began sparring with his brother to train for combat sports. Browning trained with Four Seasons MMA under Mike O'Donnell; then moving to Las Vegas, NV and trained with Xtreme Couture. His younger brother, Rob Browning, fights for the Lexington-based organization American Fight League.

The Ultimate Fighter

Browning was a fighter on The Ultimate Fighter reality show. In his elimination bout he defeated by TKO Jose Aguilar, who did not answer the bell for the second round. He was then first pick of the lightweights for Team Mir. Browning was also successful in his quarterfinal match-up with Rolando Delgado, winning by decision after 3 rounds, dropping and nearly finishing Delgado in the second. While Browning trained with team Mir, he repeatedly stated that other members on the team, namely future opponent Dave Kaplan, refused to train with him due to his intensity during training. Browning was defeated on the last episode before the finals by Efrain Escudero. He left the show by promising to be back as a fighter.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On December 13, 2008, Browning took on fellow Team Mir castmate Dave Kaplan on the main card of The Ultimate Fighter 8 Finale; winning by armbar. Browning and Kaplan both won $25,000 for "Fight of the Night." Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg repeatedly stated how Browning's striking and footwork had improved dramatically since his appearance on The Ultimate Fighter season 8.

The fight between Browning and Cole Miller at UFC Fight Night 18 ended quickly. After Browning was caught by Miller's straight right punch, he attempted a take down. Miller met the takedown, and clinched Browning's neck in a guillotine choke, ending the fight.

Post UFC

Browning made his post UFC debut against Scott Cornwell for MMA Big Show. He won the bout by submission due to a triangle choke. On February 5, 2010, Browning lost to Aaron Hall via TKO at Wild Bill's Fight Night 25 when his corner stopped the fight after the first round due to a groin injury. Next, Browning lost to Swedish MMA-fighter Reza Madadi in Superior Challenge 5 on May 1, 2010 via Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 0:22 round 2. He is currently training his jiu jitsu in Hollywood at 10th Planet HQ with Eddie Bravo. Junie was scheduled to fight on April 30 first against Navid Yousefi at Superior Challenge 7 in Sweden but was subsequently injured and replaced by Carlos Prada. On the 21st of April Superior Challenge announced on their website that the bout had been canceled.

In December, 2011, Browning was reported to have been involved in a fight in the Phuket Province of Thailand. Reports say he was allegedly physically assaulted by an expatriate female at the bar, which was followed by threats against Junie's life by locals involved with the Thai mafia. On his Facebook profile, Browning admits to getting into a bar fight after someone "and about 10 of his friends started a fight". The fight resulted in Browning having to go to the hospital for treatment. He suffered from numerous gashes to the head and neck and a stab wound to the arm. His offenders suffered no serious injuries other than minor abrasions to their hands and lower arms.

Browning has since moved back to Lexington, Kentucky and has taken on the role of a coach at 4 Seasons MMA with long-time friend and trainer Michael O'Donnell. In recent posts on Facebook, Junie has claimed he has found a true passion in "being alive" and has taken to training the students.

As of 11/12/2012, Browning has posted on Facebook he is one month sober and continues to reside in Kentucky.

After nearly four years away from active professional MMA competition, Browning returned in October 2016 to face Jeremy Myers in a welterweight bout at Hardrock MMA 84. He won the fight via TKO in the first round.

Accomplishments